Tiny cell messages and early brain changes in Alzheimer's
Contributions of cell type and exosome signaling to prodromal synaptic and circuit changes in Alzheimer's Disease models
This project looks at whether tiny packets released by brain cells change early nerve connections in people with genes that raise Alzheimer's risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11297550 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will grow human neurons, astrocytes, and microglia from stem cells that carry different Alzheimer's-related genes such as APOE variants. They will collect the extracellular vesicles (tiny packets) these cells release and analyze the proteins and RNAs inside them. The researchers will then expose lab-grown neural tissues to those vesicles to see how synapses and circuits respond. The goal is to connect genetic risk differences to vesicle content and to identify cargos that cause vulnerability or provide protection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with or at risk for Alzheimer's disease—especially those known to carry APOE risk variants—are the most relevant group for future related sampling or trial opportunities.
Not a fit: Because this is laboratory-based work using cell models, patients without Alzheimer's symptoms or those not providing biological samples are unlikely to see direct benefit in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new biomarkers or therapeutic targets in extracellular vesicles that help with earlier diagnosis or new treatments for Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows extracellular vesicles can carry disease proteins and affect other cells, but applying human iPSC-derived brain cell types to link APOE variants to vesicle bioactivity in Alzheimer's is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Scripps Research Institute, the — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petrascheck, Michael — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Petrascheck, Michael
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.